Pressure top for beverage-containing vessels and method for its operation

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a pressure top ( 1 ) which is suitable to be placed on beverage-containing vessels for pressurizing. The pressure top solves the problem of making available an improved device for providing pressure for beverage-containing vessels. It comprises a extractor blade ( 2 ) which is in operative connection with a gas cartridge via a valve arrangement, wherein the gas cartridge is displaceably provided by means of a lever arrangement ( 4 ) against a spike ( 5 ) which in turn is provided on a carriage ( 6 ): It rests against a plunger ( 8 ) which is displaceable in a recess ( 7 ). A sealing element is on one end of the plunger ( 8 ) facing the spike ( 5 ). The plunger ( 8 ) is displaceably provided in a bearing shell ( 10 ) and is in operative connection with a first end of an actuating lever ( 11 ). The carriage ( 6 ) has a bore ( 12 ) on which a first channel ( 14 ) provided in a bridge part ( 13 ) is bordering and which creates a fluidic connection between a piston ( 16 ) and the bore ( 12 ). The piston ( 16 ) rests against a second end of the actuating lever ( 11 ) tiltably supported in the cap; said lever encloses the space ( 17 ) which is in fluidic connection with the extractor blade ( 2 ) via a second channel ( 18 ).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

The right of foreign priority is claimed under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) based on Federal Republic of Germany Application No. 10 2007 032 414.8, filed Jul. 12, 2007, the entire contents of which, including the specification, drawings, claims and abstract, are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a pressure top for beverage-containing vessels, especially for vessels containing carbonated beverages, and a method for operating the pressure top.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Various devices for providing pressure in beverage vessels are known from the prior art which are used to provide such carbonic acid pressure in vessels like beer kegs, for example, so that the beer is tapped in the desired manner and an appealing head of beer is formed.

Such a tapping device for beverage kegs is specified in the utility model 79 06 737 U1 to Kötter, H. The tapping device there disclosed is used, in particular, for use with small beverage kegs which are provided with a carbon dioxide cartridge and a pressure gauge. They are supposed to be easy to handle and operate for the layman. The device is to require only very little space. A device is therefore disclosed which has an unprotected tapping device projecting into the space and being coupled with a valve via a carbon dioxide cartridge and which, also unprotected, projects into space.

DE 1944 673 to Baltzer, W. also relates to a multi-way beer keg closure with tapping device, wherein a compressed gas cushion is already provided upon filling of the device; it is automatically made available after application of the container closure or upon filling through the container closure. In particular, a withdrawal device of metal or plastic is detailed which can be connected with the keg connection in a liquid and gas tight fashion by means of a screw lock or a clamping joint. Thus, the carbonated beverage can be discharged via the withdrawal device due to the compressed gas cushion made available beforehand. For small kegs and for complete drainage, a carbon dioxide cartridge can be separately attached and removed again so that the keg can be stored, in case of incomplete drainage, without its mounted carbon dioxide cartridge in the refrigerator until complete consumption. The disadvantage in this case is that, for further consumption of the keg's contents, a fresh gas cartridge must be obtained and mounted with equipment expenditures.

Furthermore, DE 697 18 763 T2 to Suntory Ltd. discloses a chilled tapping device from which beer can be filled directly from a beer keg into a pitcher for which carbon dioxide gas is added from a cartridge. This invention focuses on the provision of chilling which is provided by means of the unfavorably space-requiring, complex invention disclosed.

Another device for the provision of a carbonated beverage is described in DE 2 323 345 to Morgan et al. in which a storage container for the beverage is provided which is equipped with a tube leading to the spigot, with an ultrasonic generator being coupled with the tube such that a firm foam structure is obtained upon tapping the beverage.

Starting from this prior art, the invention is based on the object of making an improved device available for providing pressure in beverage containers and a method for operating it. This problem is solved by a pressure top with the features of the independent claim 1 and by a method with the features of the independent claim 21. Preferred exemplary embodiments are described by the sub-claims.

A first exemplary embodiment relates to a pressure top which can be set onto beverage-containing vessels to charge the beverage with gas which is provided by a gas cartridge which is advantageously integrated in a space-saving manner in the pressure top. The gas cartridge is in contact with the contents of the vessel via a valve arrangement and an extractor blade. To let the gas flow from the cartridge into the vessel, the cartridge is pushed by means of a lever arrangement against a spike which provides an opening in the gas cartridge or, respectively, in a closure device provided in the cartridge neck. The spike itself is arranged on a carriage which has a bore for feeding the gas. The gas can flow via a valve arrangement operable as needed through the bore into a channel system which extends all the way into the blade, and it can thus flow into the beverage. The gas flow through the channel system is enabled by an actuating lever which is in operative connection with a piston so that, in a corresponding position of the actuating lever, the gas can first flow via the bore into a first channel, from there into a space surrounded by a piston and further into a second channel. Actuation of the piston by the actuating lever has the effect that the gas is pressed from the piston space into the channel which discharges into the extractor blade.

The depth of space of the pressure top according to the invention is essentially determined by the size of the gas cartridge which can be provided in the pressure top. The actuating lever is especially advantageously arranged in such a space-saving fashion that the transfer of the gas is enabled from a first level, at which the cartridge neck is located and from which the gas escapes into the bore, to a second level from which the gas is transferred at a controlled pressure into the vessel. The practical arrangement of the actuating lever between the two levels allows that a gas cartridge can be advantageously set upon a vessel in a space-saving fashion and with little structural expenditure, such that gas can be admitted to the vessel at the desired point in time; and if the beverage is not drained completely, it can continue to be stored with the vessel and pressure top.

Another exemplary embodiment advantageously refers to the design of the vessel as a can or also as a keg, especially a beer keg, as the small container is known. Cans or kegs can be practically stacked and even stored in household refrigerators together with the pressure top. Even opened kegs or cans can continue to be stored without any loss of quality.

Furthermore, the exemplary embodiments relate to the advantageous arrangement of the lever by means of which the valve arrangement according to the invention can be activated in the pressure top.

Finally, the exemplary embodiments relate to the provision of safety measures by means of safety and non-return valves.

Moreover, exemplary embodiments are related to the method for operating the pressure top according to the invention which demonstrates the simple and practical manner in which a beverage in a corresponding vessel can be charged with gas to qualitatively improve the beverage and, if necessary, facilitate the withdrawal from the vessel.

These and additional advantages are presented by the following description with reference to the accompanying figures.

Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description of preferred embodiments that follows, when considered together with the accompanying figures of drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference to the Figures in the description is used to support the description. Objects or parts of objects which are essentially identical or similar can be provided with the same reference symbols. The figures are merely schematic presentations of exemplary embodiments of the invention. In the Figures:

FIG. 1 shows an elevation of the pressure top according to the invention from above.

FIG. 2 shows a side elevation of the pressure top according to the invention with inserted carbon dioxide cartridge.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the pressure top from the bottom.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the pressure top from above.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The device of this invention is basically used to be set onto vessels which are suitable for storage and transport, up to the provision of carbonated beverages. Such vessels are especially suitably kegs or cans such as they are known from the prior art. Such kegs or cans can be placed upright; and in upright condition, they may have an opening in their upper lid surface which is only temporarily closed. Such an opening may be closed by means of a diaphragm, a plug, a turn-lock fastener or other seal; and it may be opened at that point in time when the extractor blade is to be inserted which, subject to its length, is also designated as a short extractor blade.

The gas used for pressurizing may generally be any foodstuff gas, in particular, carbon dioxide, by means of which carbonated beverages such as beer are pressurized; or even oxygen can be used with beverages which are to have a particularly high oxygen content. Such beverages are especially known in the physical fitness sector.

The focus of this invention is directed to small container kegs with a volume of approx. 5 to 10 liters, in particular to those containing beer, since these small container kegs must be supplied with carbon dioxide for drainage so that the beverage can be tapped into a drinking vessel and presented properly fresh and with an appealing head of foam.

Kegs suitable to be provided with the pressure top according to the invention are described, inter alia, in WO 00/07927 to Grittmann.

If the pressure top according to the invention is arranged on a corresponding small container keg for beer with an integrated tapping system, carbon dioxide can be transferred, upon actuation of the mechanism, from a cartridge integrated in the pressure top into the keg where carbonic acid is formed with the beverage or, respectively, in the beverage. The pressure thus provided supports the transfer of the beverage from the tapping device which is arranged on the keg or, if necessary, may be correspondingly arranged on the keg so that the beverage supplied with fresh carbon dioxide can be provided to be drunk with a fresh fizz. The pressure top according to the invention with its integrated carbon dioxide cartridge is insofar particularly advantageous for the application of beer tapping since the beer obtains a head of foam and a fresh taste due to the carbonic acid produced in situ.

FIG. 1 shows the pressure top according to the invention which has a extractor blade, better evident from FIG. 2. Via a valve arrangement, extractor blade is connected with a carbon dioxide cartridge 3.

Basically, an extractor blade in this case is understood to be a tube which is essentially perpendicularly arranged to the plane of the device in which the gas cylinder is located. The extractor blade can be stationarily arranged on the pressure top; in other embodiments not shown, the extractor blade can also be pushed on as a loose component. Furthermore, the extractor blade is able to be inserted into the keg through an opening accordingly provided in a keg. The extractor blade can accordingly project more or less deeply into the keg in which it may be encompassed by a riser tube connected with a spigot according to the keg's embodiment. On the other hand, the extractor blade may, of course, also tightly surround the riser tube in other embodiments.

FIG. 1 shows clearly that the gas cartridge 3, which may be a carbon dioxide cartridge for the provision of carbon dioxide for a reaction with H₂O to produce carbonic acid, is displaceable by a lever arrangement 4, accessible and operable from the outside of the pressure top, in such a manner against a spike 5 provided on the inside of the pressure top that the spike opens the cartridge 3. The spike 5 is provided on a carriage 6 which is located in a recess 7 and displaceable therein against a plunger 8. The displaceable carriage 6 is insofar moved, as a result of actuating the lever 4, against a plunger 8 which is applied against a sealing element which here is a rubber disk 9. The sealing element is provided at one end of the plunger 8 which is facing the spike 5. It may also be made, aside from rubber, of another suitable material, such as Teflon or plastic. Furthermore, its form may also be, in addition to the disk shape, other suitable geometric shapes, such as a ring or a cylinder.

The plunger 8 is displaceably provided in a bearing shell 10 and is in operative connection with a first end of an actuating lever 11. The actuating lever is arranged such that the gas flowing from the pierced cartridge neck is transferred from its higher level under pressure control to the lower level at which the extractor blade is located: To this end, the gas flows, after the plunger 8 was advanced by means of the lever movement of the lever arrangement 4, through the bore 12 which is provided in the carriage along an axis A-A extending through the carriage, up into a first channel 14 which is located in the bridge part 13. The bridge part is provided such that the first channel 14 and the bore 12 are provided approximately at a right angle to each other. At that point in time, the gas pressure is considerably reduced due to the corresponding change of the volumes flowed through.

This spatial arrangement of the first channel 14 to bore 12, which provides a fluidic connection between a piston 16 and the bore 12, is not absolutely imperative: The fluidic connection may also be realized in another geometric arrangement while maintaining the desired pressure reduction.

The piston 16 rests against a second end of the actuating lever 11 which is tiltably supported in the pressure top 1. The actuating lever's first end is in contact with plunger 8 so that after tilting the actuating lever 11 by the plunger movement, the second end of the actuating lever 11 is brought into contact with the piston 16 so that the space 17 enclosed by the piston 16 enters into fluidic connection with the extractor blade via the second channel 18. The gas contained in space 17 flows via the extractor blade into the vessel not shown in the Figures.

Said lever 11 rests such against the inside of the rim 1″ of the cap′ which combines the individual components of the pressure top under it so that the lever can tilt. To this end, it has a rounding 19 which, as disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2, provides a support on a contact surface 19′ of the cap rim 1″. The cap rim 1″ is therefore stiffened on its outside by means of longitudinal ribs 28. Of course, other patterns or forms can also provide a stiffening of the cap rim 1″. If the rounding 19 of the lever 11 is eccentrically arranged, a smaller plunger movement is effected.

As becomes clear in FIGS. 1 and 2, the plunger 8 according to the invention may have a camber which corresponds with a conforming recess provided in the lever 11.

The second bore 14 is in fluidic contact with the bottom surface 15 of a piston 16 whose bottom surface 15 is reasonably larger than the bottom surface of the plunger 8 formed by the rubber disk 9 to bring about a corresponding pressure reduction. Actuation of the lever 4 thus has the effect that the spike 5 opens an access in the gas cartridge arranged in the pressure top, that the gas flowing through bore 12 flows further through the first channel 14 from where it gets into a second channel 18 before it flows through the extractor blade into the keg.

It is evident from FIG. 3 that the pressure top 1 which may be a cap 1′ with a cap rim 1″ is positioned such, that the valve arrangement is fastened in the cap (1′) while the gas cartridge is detachably fixed in a recess 26 in the cap and can be advantageously easily replaced. It can be supported on a displaceable foot rest 22, see FIG. 2, which is connected via a joint 23 with the lever arrangement 4. The gas cartridge is thus positioned in a stable condition and safe for transport.

The described lever arrangement is advantageously provided on the outside of the cap 1′ as shown in FIG. 4; the lever can simply be realized by means of a clip 24 which can be pushed down and which is embedded in the cap 1′. As an additional safety against unintentional pushing down, a web 25 lying transversely across the clip 24 may be provided. This web can be directly cut on the cap material; and it is advantageously made such that it tears off when the clip 24 is intentionally pressed down.

To ensure, for example, at elevated ambient temperatures or in other conditions, that no excess pressure builds up in the keg or in the can and becomes unacceptably high, the bridge part 13 may feature, as shown in FIG. 1, a pressure relief valve 27 which may be provided on one end of the bridge part 13 facing away from the sealing element. The pressure relief valve 27 advantageously opens at an excess pressure as of 2 bar.

Moreover, the pressure top may have a non-return valve 20 in the extractor blade, as shown in FIG. 2.

To easily mount the pressure top on the vessel or the can, the cap rim 1″ is made such that it can be brought into engagement with the upper rim of the keg or the can, for example, by a simple latching device. To this end, the cap rim (1″) may have recesses (21) facing away from each other and acting as springs.

The pressure top for pressurizing vessels containing beverages can thus be operated such that the lever arrangement 4 is operated whereby the gas cartridge is displaced against the spike 5 which is arranged at a carriage 6. The gas flows out into a bore 12 provided in the carriage. The carriage 6 which is located in a recess 7 is displaced against a plunger 8 whereby gas flows into a first channel 14 provided in the bridge part and further into the space 17 enclosed by the piston. The plunger 8 provided in bearing shell 10 is thereby displaced; and the plunger 8 is brought into connection with a first end of the actuating lever 11, whereby the actuating lever 11 tilts.

The second end of the actuating lever 11 is brought into contact with the piston 16 so that the space 17 enclosed by the piston 16 is brought into fluidic connection with the extractor blade via the second channel 18, and the gas contained in space 17 flows via the extractor blade at a reduced pressure into the vessel.

The foregoing description of preferred embodiments of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description only. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible and/or would be apparent in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and that the claims encompass all embodiments of the invention, including the disclosed embodiments and their equivalents.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

 1 Pressure top  1′ Cap  1″ Cap rim  2 Extractor blade  3 Carbon dioxide cartridge  4 Lever arrangement  5 Spike  6 Carriage  7 Recess  8 Plunger  9 Rubber disk 10 Bearing shell 11 Actuating lever 12 First bore 13 Bridge part 14 First channel 15 Bottom surface 16 Piston 17 Space 18 Second channel 19 Rounding 19′ Contact surface 20 Non-return valve 21 Recesses 22 Foot rest 23 Joint 24 Clip 25 Web 26 Recess for gas cartridge 27 Pressure relief valve 28 Ribs 

1. Pressure top suitable to be placed on beverage-containing vessels for pressurizing, the pressure top comprising: a extractor blade which is in operative connection with a gas cartridge via a valve arrangement, wherein the gas cartridge is displaceably arranged by a lever arrangement against a spike; the spike is arranged on a carriage which is located in a recess displaceable against a plunger; a sealing element is arranged at one end of the plunger facing the spike; the plunger is displaceably provided in a bearing shell and is in operative connection with a first end of an actuating lever; the carriage has a bore along an axis (A-A) extending through the carriage; a bridge part with a first channel providing a fluidic connection between a piston and the bore; the piston resting against a second end of the actuating lever tiltably supported in the pressure top; wherein a space enclosed by the piston is in fluidic connection with the extractor blade via a second channel.
 2. Pressure top according to claim 1, wherein the gas cartridge is a carbon dioxide cartridge or an oxygen cartridge.
 3. Pressure top according to claim 1, wherein the pressure top has a cap with a cap rim, and the valve arrangement is fastened in the cap, and at least the gas cartridge is detachably positioned in a recess in the cap.
 4. Pressure top according to claim 1, wherein the bottom surface of the piston is larger than the bottom surface of the plunger provided by the sealing element.
 5. Pressure top according to claim 1, wherein the lever arrangement is provided on an outer side of the cap.
 6. Pressure top according to claim 1, wherein the sealing element is in the form of a disk, ring or cylinder.
 7. Pressure top according to claim 1, wherein the sealing element is made of rubber, Teflon, an elastic plastic, or another suitable material.
 8. Pressure top according to claim 1, wherein the bridge part has a pressure relief valve.
 9. Pressure top according to claim 1, wherein the pressure relief valve is arranged on one end of the bridge part facing away from the sealing element.
 10. Pressure top according to the claim 8, wherein the pressure relief valve opens at an excess pressure starting at 2 bar.
 11. Pressure top according to claim 1, wherein the vessel is a keg or a can, preferably with a volume of up to 10 liters, more preferably with a volume of up to 5 liters.
 12. Pressure top according to claim 1, wherein a rounding of the actuating lever provides a support at a contact surface of the cap rim.
 13. Pressure top according to claim 1, wherein the support of the actuating lever is eccentrically designed.
 14. Pressure top according to claim 1, wherein a non-return valve is provided in the extractor blade.
 15. Pressure top according to claim 11, wherein the cap rim is designed to engage with the upper rim of the keg or the can.
 16. Pressure top according to claim 11, wherein the cap rim has recesses facing away from each other and acting as springs.
 17. Pressure top according to claim 1, wherein the gas cartridge is supported on a displaceable foot rest which is connected via a joint with the lever arrangement.
 18. Pressure top according to claim 1, wherein the lever arrangement has a clip embedded in the cap.
 19. Pressure top according to claim 1, wherein the clip is covered at least partly by a web which is suitable to tear off when the actuating lever is operated.
 20. Pressure top according to claim 1, wherein the extractor blade is suitable to be enclosed by a riser tube which is connected with a spigot.
 21. Method for pressurizing vessels containing beverages, using a pressure top according to claim 1, wherein a extractor blade is in operative connection with a gas cartridge via a valve arrangement, comprising: operation of the lever arrangement; the gas cartridge is displaced against a spike which is arranged on a carriage with gas flowing into a bore provided in the carriage; displacing the carriage located in a recess against a plunger, whereby gas flows into a channel provided in the bridge part and further into a space enclosed by the piston; and whereby the plunger is displaced which is provided in the bearing shell; connecting the plunger with a first end of the actuating lever, whereby the actuating lever tilts; bringing the second end of the actuating lever into contact with the piston so that the space enclosed by the piston is in fluidic connection with the extractor blade via the second channel, and the gas contained in the space flowing via the extractor blade into the vessel. 